Propulsion device



PROPULSION DEVI GE Filed Dec; 3, 1931 INVENTOR & a2 M flank. M

ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1933 seer:

WILLIAM T. ENSIGN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN PROPULSION DEVICE Application filed December 3, 1931.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in the broad class of propulsion devices, and relates particularly to a propulsion device which may be operatively connected to power means to propel a vehicle through the medium of disturbances in air currents caused bythe propulsion device.

The screw propeller commonly used for this purpose for-the propulsion of airplanes and the like, is known to lose its operating eiiiciency when revolved at the higher rates of speeds. This loss of efficiency frequently is referred to as the slip of the propeller and is due to the fact that the propeller, revolving at a high rate of speed, travels in a partial'vacnum created by its own revolution,

and there is no opportunity for the propeller to revolve in a medium which will give it an efficient pull on thevehicle. As a result the highest point of efficiency in the use of a propeller of this type is to be found in the middle range of speeds at which it might be revolved.

This use of the lower speed ranges for the revolving of such propulsion devices limits both the speed and the efficiency of the vehicles which are sought to be propelled by such devices. Particularly is this true of air- 7 craft of various kinds where the lift and efficiency of the vehicle depends entirely upon the differences in air pressure above and below the lifting medium.

Likewise, these known facts relating to the inefficiency of the modern screw propeller has prevented its general adoption for the propulsion of other vehicles such as land vehicles orwatercraft, and its use at present is limited solely to the propulsion of aircraft of various kinds and in a few remote instances to land vehicles such as ice sleds and the like.

It is, therefore, an object of my present invention to provide new and useful improve ments in a propulsion device which depends for its propulsive effect upon disturbances created in the air, and which may be operated most efliciently at the higher ranges of speeds of rotation.

It is a further object of my present inven tion to provide a device, with the improvements of the character described, in which Serial No. 578,788.

there is no loss in efliciency due to rotation of the device in a partial vacuum at any operating speeds.

- These and various other objects, features of arrangement, construction and operation are plainly shownand described and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front plan View of a device em= bodying my invention;

Fig. 2-is a sectional view taken on 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3.3 of Fig. 1.

the line Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view.

partially in section, of the telescopingw anes and mechanism for operation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top elevation in sec tion of the air intake ports. I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation in section showing the hub and the cam operating mech amsm. v

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 11) designates I a wheel-like hollow structure formed of an outer covering with an internal frame work composed of the spokes 11 and 12 and auxiliary internal bracing members 13, 1 1-, 15 and 16. This wheel is preferably constructed of some light rigid material, such as duralumin or the like, although it may be constructed. of any other suitable rigid medium. I The spokes 11 and 12 join a hub 17 located centrally of the wheel-like member 10, the outer covering of the wheel-like member 1O likewise being secured to the hub 17 by rivets or similar means 18. An opening 19 is cut through the outer covering of the wheel-like member midway between the auxiliary supporting members 18 and 14, and an opening 20 is cut through the outer covering of the wheel-like member 10 midway between the auxiliary supporting members and 16. Openings 21 and 22 are provided between the hub 17 and the openings 19 and 20. L0- cated within each of the openings 19 and are vanes 23, 24, 25 and 26, each ofwhich is constructed as shown in Fig. 2 of a plurality l'OU of independent telescoping sections 27, 28 and 29. Likewise, as shown in Fig. 2, each of the sections 27, 28 and 29 is rigidly secured to a rotatable cam 30. It is to be understood that each of the respective vanes 23, 24, 25 and 26 is constructed, as above described, with a plurality of telescoping sectionsrigidly secured to a cam such as the cam :30.

Each of, the cams 30 is secured'to an operating shaft 31, which causes a movement of the cam and the consequent movement of whichever of the vanes 23, 24, 25 or 26 to which it may be attached. Cross straps 41 and 42 connect the cams 30 in such a manner as to insure a synchronized movement of the two cams, particularly at high speed operation. Movement of the shafts 31 is caused by a rocking of members 32 caused by their movement about a cam 33, formed as shown in Fig. 3. The cam 33 is mounted rigidly upon a part 34, which is secured to the vehicle to be propelled, and a bearing 35, rigldly secured to the member 34, permits a rotation of the drive shaft 36 without causing a rotation of the member 34 or of the cam 33.

The drive shaft 36 is secured to the hub 17 and causes a rotation of thelentire wheellike structure with the shaft 36 and relative to the cam 33 and the part 34. Each of the shafts 31 is rigidly secured, as shown in the dotted line in Fig. 1, to the internal structure of the wheel-like member 10, so that the entire structure revolves as a unit, as above described.

As the wheel-like member 10 and all of the entire structure revolves with the power shaft 36, the members 32 ride on the cam surface 33, which by reason of its contour causes a swinging movement of the members 32,

j: which is translated to the shafts 31, causing i a rotation of the shafts 31 and a movement of the cams 30, with consequent movement of the vanes 23, 24, 25 and 26 relative to the outside surface'of the wheel-like member 10. The contour of the cam 33 is such that the members 32 are moved to open the vanes, as shown in Fig; 2, at the time when the entire device has reached a predetermined point in its revolution, which is shown in the drawing at the time when the member is above the shaft 36 and the shaft 31 is on a line parallel with the vertical axis of the shaft 36. It will be apparent that when the device is revolved in a clockwise direction with the shaft 36, that this extension of the vanes 23 and 24 at this point will act to create a disturbance in the air in much the same manner as a paddle wheel operates upon Water, the vanes 23 and 24 remaining in this open position during the revolution of the wheel 10 until the vanes 23 and 24 occupy a position be low the axis of the shaft 36, and the shaft 31 is on a line parallel to the vertical axis of 7 said shaft 36. At this point, the contour of the cam 33 is such that the vanes are closed tive to the vanes 23 and 24. With this con struction it is apparent that the rotation of the entire structure accomplishes a disturbance of the air during only one portion of the cycle of its movement, the vanes then being withdrawn within the outer covering so that for the remaining portion of the cycle of its movement no air disturbance is created and the air is allowed to flow back in place.

In order to assure the presence of suflicient air at the instant of opening of the vanes, as above described, ports 21 and 22 are provided. The rotation of the entire wheel-like member 10, particularly at the high rates of speed at which it is intended to use the device embodying my invention, causes air to flow through theopenings'21 and 22 into the interior of the wheel-like member 10 between the members 13 and 14 and the members and 16, so that there is inside of the wheel-like member 10 always an amount of air under considerable pressure which is released upon the opening of the vanes, as above described. Upon the release of this air, it flows out and into the vanes, providing an additional body of air to be acted upon by the vanes in their open position, which permits the propulsion of a vehicle attached to the device.

When the vanes are opened, the air under pressure inside the structure is forced through the openings inside the wheel-like member and is ejected through ports inside the members 37. The fact that this air is under pressure and fills the inside of the members 37 results in the creation of a pressure differential on the inside and the outside of the members 37, this effect being similar in result to the creation of a partial vacuum back ofthe projection portion of the member 37.

The rotation of devices embodying my invention at the high speeds at which it is intended that they should be used, will result in the creation of a gyroscopic effect which is neutralized by the use of two members operating in pairs of two or more.

In order to prevent the escape of air from the interior of the wheel-like member 10 during the time that the vanes are closed, members 37 are attached to each of the outside segments of the vanes 27 and close tightly over the openings 19 and provided in the members 10. V

While I have shown the opening and closing of the vanes by means of the shafts 31, operated by the members 32, operating on the cam 33, it will be apparent that other well known mechanical means may be employed 'to efiect this opening and closing of the vanes at predetermined intervals during therevolution of the entire structure, and I do not desire to be limited in the exact mechanism here shown for this purpose, although any mechanism used for this purpose must be capable of operation at very high speeds for it is my intention to utilize a device embodying my invention as speedsin excess of 4,000 B. P. M. 7

In order to regulate the operation of a vehicle to which a propulsion device embodying my invention is attached, it is necessary to control not only the speed of rotation of the propulsion device, but also its efficiency. This is accomplished by a movement of the member 34 and the cam member 83 on aline parallel to the center of the shaft 36 relative to the adjacent surface of the wheellik e member 10, this making it possible to control the amount of movement of the members 32 andlikewise the amount of move ment of the shaft 31 and the rotation of the cams 20 and the opening of the vanes secured to the cams 30.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many m0diiications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A propulsion device including a hub portion, means for operatively connecting said hub portion to a power driven shaft, radially extending bracing members secured to said hub, an outer covering secured to said radially extending bracing members and adapted to form closed air chambers between said members and said covering, ports in said covering on opposite sides of said hub, telescoping vanes mounted in each of said ports, and means for extending and closing said vanes, said means being operatively connected for operation upon rotation of said hub.

2. A propulsion device including a hub portion, means for operatively connecting said hub portion to a power driven shaft, radially extending bracing members secured to said hub, an outer covering secured to said radially extending bracing members and adapted to form closed air chambers between said members and said covering, ports in said covering on opposite sides of said hub, telescoping vanes mounted in each of said ports, and means for extending and closing said vanes, said means being operatively connected for operation upon rotation of said hub, and said means being adjustable to control the amount of extension of said vanes.

3. A propulsion device including a hub portion, means for operatively connecting said hub portion to a power driven shaft, radially extending bracing members secured to said hub, an outer covering secured to said radially extending bracing members and adapted to form closed air chambers between said members and said covering, ports in said covering on opposite'sides of said hub, telescoping vanes'mounted in each of said ports, and means for extending and closing said vanes, said means being operatively connected for operation upon rotation of said hub, said means being operatively connected to said hub whereby said vanes will be extended and closed at predetermined times during the rotation of said hub.

4. A propulsion device including a hub portion, means for operatively connecting said hub portion to a power driven shaft, radially ext-ending bracing members secured to said hub, an outer covering secured to said radially extending bracing members and adapted to form closed air chambers between said members and said covering, ports in said covering on opposite sides of said hub, and

means. furnishing a communicating air pas-, sage between said ports and said air chambers whereby a volume of air under pressure will be forced out of said ports upon opening of said ports, telescoping vanes forming a covering for said ports when closed and adaptedv to be extended upon the opening of said ports, and means operatively connecting said vanes to said hub whereby rotation of said hub will open and close said ports at predetermined times during its rotation.

' 5. A. propulsion device including a hub portion, means for operatively connecting said hub portion to a power driven shaft, radially extending bracing members secured to said hub, an outer covering secured to said radially extending bracing members and adapted to form closed air chambers between said members and said covering, ports in said covering on opposite sides of said hub, and means furnishing a communicating air passage between said ports and said air chambers whereby a volume of air under pressure Will be forced out of said ports upon opening of said ports, telescoping vanes forming a covering for said ports when closed and adapted to be extended upon the opening of said ports,and means operatively connecting said vanes to said hub whereby rotation of said hub will open and close said ports at predetermined times during its rotation, said means for extending said vanes comprising a contoured cam surface concentric with the power-driven shaft and adjacent said hub, and a plurality of shafts journaled in said supporting members and having rocking cam surfaces secured to the ends adjacent said ass hub,vrocking cams secured to the opposite ends of said shafts and operatively connecting said shafts and said vanes whereby rotation of said shafts will extend and close said vanes. ,7 y 6. A propulsion device including rotatably mounted extensible and retractable means for contacting with the air and means for supplying air under pressure at one side of said rotatably mounted extensible and repoints adjacent said means for contacting with the air whereby a densified area of air is made available at the point of contact of said rotatably mounted Vmeans and the air without affecting the atmospheric pressure differential established on the opposite sides of said means for contacting with the air.

8. A propulsion device including a plurality 1 of extensible and retractable air scoops, a hub, means securing said air scoops for rotation with said hub, means associated with said hub and extending and retracting said air scoops at predetermined intervals during the rotation of said hub, means for rotating said hub, and means for supplying avolu'me of air under pressure inside said scoops during the time when said scoops are extended. a

9. A propulsion device including a plurality of extensible-and retractable air scoops formed of a plurality of telescoping sections, a hub, means securing said air scoops for rotation with said hub, means associated with said hub and extending and retracting said air scoops at predetermined intervals during the rotationof said hub, meansfor rotating said hub, and means for supplying a volume of air under pressure insidesaid scoops during the. time. when said scoops are extended.

10. A propulsion deviceincluding a plurality of extensible and retractable air scoops, a hub,means securing said air scoops for rotation with said hub, means associated with said hub and extendlng and retracting said air scoops at predetermined intervals during the rotation of said hub, means for rotating said hub, means for supplying a volume of air under pressure inside said scoops during the time when saidv scoops are extended, and means fol-varying the efiective contact area of said scoops.

11. A propulsion deviceincluding a plurality of extensible and retractable air scoops formed of a plurality of telescoping sections, a hub, means securing said air scoopsfor ro- "tation with said hub, means associated with said hub and extending and retracting said air scoops at predetermined intervals during the rotation of said hub, means for rotating said hub, and means for supplying a'volume of air under pressure inside said scoops during the time when said scoops are extended, and means for varying the effective contact area of said scoops and including means for-selectively extending all or a portion of said telescoping sections.

Signed at Detroit, lVayne County, Michigan, this 30th day of November, 1931. I

' WILLIAM T. ENSIGN. 

